How much is too much??

[Daelene & Molly]

We had Molly groomed (mainly washed) last week, and she did pretty well.  Today we took her out for a romp with Bear and they both got a little muddy.  We had to bathe her when we got home, and she did incredible.  She just sat under the running water like she was in a shower and let us shampoo then rinse her off.  We toweled dried her then put her under my hair dryer, where again she was amazing. 

Here is the question, how much bathing is too much?  Here in the Pacific Northwest if you go outside you can get pretty messy during this time frame, lots of rain & mud.  I don't want to keep her in the house alot, so if we take her out she will need the baths. 

My husband read that too much bathing isn't good for them.  Help!  Molly is our 1st doodle and we want to do it right. 

Thanks in advance

Daelene & Molly

[Adina P]

I think there's a difference between a full bath with shampoo and everything and just rinsing them off.  I think it's fine to rinse them off as often as necessary. And major dirt, once dried, usually just falls off if you brush her.  There's no research I've found that dictates how often to bathe your dog.  Therapy dogs have to be bathed within 24 hours of their visits and some people go weekly so to me says that even weekly baths can be okay.  Show dogs have to be bathed a lot and I haven't heard of any of them suffering.  But I would say probably not more than once weekly...and that's on the high end.

[Daelene & Molly]

Good point, I did not know that about therapy dogs.  Once the rain & mud season is done ☺ I don't think bathing will be that much of an issue.  I think we will go with the spot cleaning and the rinsing off.  Thanks Adina

[F, Calla & Luca]

The original breeders of labradoodles recommended twice a year baths and I follow that. I do spot cleanups as necessary. But mud and most tings will fall off or brush out. My doodles do not smell!

[Daelene & Molly]

With your spot cleanups are you using any soap or just water?

[F, Calla & Luca]

It depends on what the spots about. Sometimes soap is needed sometimes a wet washcloth will do.

[Daelene & Molly]

Gotcha.  I feel like a new mommy, ha.

[BG and Gavin]

Other than "spot cleaning" Gavin get a full bath every 2-3 months.  Once they are dry the dirt seems to fall out of their coats.  We do paw dunks in a pail of warm water when necessary.

[Daelene & Molly]

Thanks for the pointer.  I love the "paw dunks" and I think that is what we will do.

[Jodi and Stella]

you might look into the "Paw Plunger". Kind of the same concept as a golfball washer with soft bristles inside. It works like a charm!

[Shelly Gouvas]

We always do the paw dunks and Jake doesn't even fight me.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I think it depends on the individual Doodle, their hair and skin type...things like that.  Our Gracie Doodle goes to the beach a lot and believe me, sand does NOT just hose out.  You have to wash it out with shampoo.  I use human Pantene 2-1 with conditioner.  I dilute it way down so it is watery and it works wonders for her coat.  I figure my Doodle has hair and is not oily or stinky like regular dogs, therefore I don't use dog shampoo.  When I have she comes out all rough, with tangles and stiff feeling.  Plus there are lots of tangles with dog shampoo.  Doodles for the most part do not smell and can go for a long time without bathing.  I just know that mine spends a ton of time in mud, dirt, sand and bushes just being a Tom Boy and therefore, I prefer to bathe her.  She can get one a week at times when we are doing a lot of dirty things. We have never had any dry, flaky or itchy skin and she doesn't ever get hot spots.  No allergies here either.  So, it depends on the individual Doodle!

[Daelene & Molly]

Thanks Nancie, I have gotten alot of really good pointers.  With Molly being our first doodle I want her coat to be nice.  I guess it will be trial and error until we find what works well with Molly.  I do have to say that we learned that we can bathe & dry her right here at home with no fuss from her.  She loved it, and that's a huge relief for me because I want to do as much as I can of her grooming.